Self-contained grab bucket unit for hoist lines



Aug- 5" 1952 v. R. BROWNING 2,605,563

SELF-CONTAINED GRAB BUCKET UNIT FOR HOIST LINES Filed Aug. 27, "1945 :ssheets-sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. ,rmmag ATTORNE Y,

- Aug. 5, 1952 42,605,563

SELF-CONTAINED GRAB BUCKET UNIT FOR HoIsT LINES Filed Aug. 27, 1945 V.R. BROWNING I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l o e e Q e e o G G e G l .u 4 v V mmf;

Aug- 5, 1952 v. R. BRowNlNG 2,605,563

SELF-CONTAINED GRAB BUCKET UNIT FOR I-IOIST LINES Filed Aug. 27, 1945 5Sheets-Sheet 3 56 l 4 1 JNVENToR. 53 6o VICTOR R. BRowNlNe R54 BY lATTORNEY Patented Aug. 5, -1952 SELF-CONTAINED GRAB BUCKET UNIT FR HOISTLINES Victor RfBrowning, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to Victor R. Browning &Company, Incorporated, Willoughby, Ohio, a corporation of OhioApplication rAugust 27, 1945, Serial No. 612,872

This invention relates to a self-containedgrab bucket unit for hoistlines and the like. More particularly, it comprises a fluid pressureoperated grab bucket unit adapted to be engaged upon theend of the hoistline of a crane -or similar apparatus. i

.The invention includesa grab bucketfof substantially conventional rtypeprovided with an elongated fluid pressure operatedcylinder, set indiagonal operative relation to the respective halves of the grab bucketmechanism, together with means for filling and releasingr operative uidinrelation to said cylinder. v

The invention also includes a motor-drive pump. associated withran oilreservoir, together with flexible fluid connections with said cylinderand said. reservoir, whereby powerful closing action on said buckethalves may be produced at a relatively high rate ofspeed, and preferablyassociated with a secondary pressure.r applying means .to preventaccidental or premature partial load release.

The invention also includes the angular posi'- tioning of the hydraulic`cylinder so that a long range ofaction may be had when small space isavailable for the movement of the bucket halves from closed to openposition and reversely.

VThe invention also includes-the control of a self-contained unit of thecharacter above reierred to from a position remote fromrthe point ofoperation' and also gravity `release of-the bucket halves ata,,higherfrate of operation'than when positive control of the bucketopening is included, the release preferably being associated with aslightly retarded opening mechanism. c

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improvedself-contained grab bucket unit for hoistlines andthe like.

Another object oftheinvention is to provide an improved iiuid pressureoperated grab bucket unit carrying its individual pump, motor andreservoir associated with a remote control unit.

vAnother object of the invention is to provide an improved fluidpressure operated grab bucket unit wherein a hydraulic cylinder issetdiagonally of the grab bucket halves,thereby insuring a long range ofaction within a compact area of the structure; n

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved grabV bucketunit of substantially conventional type wherein the grab buckethalvesare closed by fluid pressure-means and preferably held closed by uidpressure and secondary pressure and are opened through the action .ofgravity, preferably with retarded release, and

wherein the complete operative elements of the iluid pressure system aremounted on the grab bucket structure. y

Another object of the invention is-to provide an improved grab bucket ofsubstantially any desired capacity consistent with the load limits ofthe crane or Aother structure, wherein the entire operative mechanism ofthe grab bucket is carried on the grab bucket structure and requires noseparate installation or connection, full installation being made byengaging the hookof the hoist line of the crane or other apparatusthrough the supporting ring of the grab bucket unit.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart to which my invention relates from the following description takenin connection .with the accompanying drawings, wherein f v Figure 1 is aside elevation of an apparatus embodying the principles of theinvention, the grab bucket being shown in open position in full linesand in closed position in dotted lines; and

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1 as seenfrom the right looking toward the center of said View;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

.and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view.

As is clearly shown in the drawings the selfcontained grab bucket unit Icomprises the bucket halves or clam shells 2, 3, eachprovided withsuitable reinforcing plates along their margins and having a pair ofhinge arms 4, 5, respectively, at their upper corners adjacent the inneropen areas. The hinge'arms of each bucket half are connected on eachside with the corresponding arms on the companion bucket half by a hingepin 6 adjacent which stop members 'l are provided on the hinge arms,said stop members being shown as plates secured to the hinge arms in aposition to contact'each other when the bucket halves are in openposition.

The upper outer corners ofA the bucket halves are provided withsuspension brackets 8 with which the supporting members E), l0), of thevrespective bucket halves are pivotally engaged. The members 9 may haveweb. reinforcingon their under sidesto provide greater rigidity assupports for an abutment against which the operating member reacts, aswill be presently described. The supporting members 9 and IG areprovided with apertures at their upper ends and engaged on a yoke pin Ilsupported in a suspension yoke I2. The yoke I2 consists of spacedupstanding plates, having top yoke members I3 formed with alignedapertures to receive the suspension hook yoke pin I4, by means of whichthe unit is connected to the crane hook or other point of attachment forthe unit.

The supporting arms S are provided adjacent the yoke I2 with a housingI5 open on its underside and of reduced size in an upward direction, theend wall of the housing serving to support a fixed abutment plate I6against which the inner end of a heavy coiled spring I'I is seated. Theabutment plate is centrally apertured and formed with a keyway toreceive an eye-bolt I8 provided with a key 2D. The upper end portion ofthe bolt I 8 is screw-threaded (as shown at. l5 in` Fig. 3) to receivean adjustment nut 2 I and lock nut 22, the adjustment nut bearingyagainst an annulus 23 which forms a seat for the outer end of thespring Il. The end of the eye-bolt Within the housing receives a pin 2liconnecting the eye 25k of the eye-bolt with a terminal stud 26 on theclosed end of a uid pressure cylinder 21. The opposite end of thecylinder is closed by a packing gland Z3A having a centralv opening forthe piston rod 29. The piston rod carries a piston 3l of conventionalform at oneend and on its opposite end is connected to the central upperside of a cross-head or yoke 32 of shallow arched form' having yoke pins33 at its opposite .Y

The yoke fj.

adjacent structure. The closing leverage applied to the opposite clamshell 2 Vmay be distributed over the adjacent structure by means of aninverted V-shaped brace 35- connected atV its apex centrally of the topedge of the bucket with its opposite ends secured to the hinge armsv (iadjacent the hinge pin E.

The iiuid pressure operated mechanism may be used with any suitablefluid medium and may have fluid connections at each end of the cylinder`However, in the form illustrated, a single hose connection 36 serves toadmit pressure fluid te the cylinder adjacent its lower end through aT-head connection 39, having a pressure release plug. Thus fluidpressure is used to close the bucket halves and the action of gravityIserves to release and open the bucket halves,

The source of fluid pressure in the form illustrated comprises ahydraulic system having an oil reservoir with valves and distributinglines, a pump and a motor. The entire pressure unit All is mounted on aplatform 42 positioned between the supporting members i6 to which it isconnected by heavy cross-braces 43, carrying Aspaced upright supportingplates secured to the underside of the platform adjacent its ends,respectively. Adjacent its upper end the cylinder 2'1 is provided with atting E@ to permit `venting the upper end of the cylinder to theatmosphere when a single pressure line is used, or serving as a point ofconnection for a second pressure line when positive fluid pressureoperation in each direction is in View.

Any suitable power source may be used, Ythe one illustrated comprisingan electric motor 5i the shaft 52 of which is directly connected to arotary pump 53 having an intake line 54 connested with the oil reservoir55 and a pressure line 5B connected with a valve 57. The valveillustrated is a three-way valve controlled by a solenoid 69a enclosedin a housing and adapted selectively to deliver pressure to the cylinder2l or discharge it into the tank or reservoir 55. The solenoid isconnected with theA valve element othe valve 5l by a linkageb fulcrumedat Bb on the side wall of the housing. It may hold the oil in thecylinder or permit the oil to discharge from the cylinder into thereservoir, thus bringing about the opening of the bucket through theforce of gravity. A check valve 5B is provided in the pressure line 56,having a small ori-ce or bleed port 59, of such sise as to restrict theow of oil in one direction and to provide full flow in the otherdirection. Thus the speed of opening of the bucket is controlled bymeans of the small orifice. The bucket closes with an unrestricted flowof oil toward the cylinder, but the bucket halves are prevented fromfalling open too rapidly by reason of' the restricted flow through theAorice toward the oil reservoir. The size of the orifice can beregulatedso as to provide, for a predetermined speed of opening of thebucket halves. In order to prevent reverse iow of oil through `the inletpipe when the motor is idle, a check valve Gi isv` provided in theintake line 54'. Through the arrangement of valves justrd'escri-bed,uniform and dependable opening andv closing movement of the bucket isprovided for. l

The ordinary operation ,of the device as above described will beobvious, the bucket halves closing under fluid pressure and openingunder the inuence `of gravity. However, as it has been found that slightoil leakage may resultin sufficient separation of the bucket halves tocause fine material to dribble through the narrowcrevice at the bucketmargins, means are embodied in the present disclosure to avoid thiscondition. The means referred to consist of thespring I1, which beinginterposed between the housing I5 and the fluid pressure unit, is loadedthrough the oil 'pressure in the closing movement of the bucket' halvesand provides a slight degree of lost motion before the bucket openingtakes place afterthe fluid pressure is released. Thus the bucket islocked in closedy position, under spring pressurev as Well as underiiui'd'pressura andthe spring pressure compensates; for any loss of*Vfluid pressure through oil leakage. The exact manner in'which the springI1 is placed under tension will be clearly understood by reference toFigs. l and 3, since the cylinder is held against downward movement bythe heavy coil spring until the piston has completed its full upwardclosing travel after which slight additional iiuid pressure will placethe spring under a predetermined degree of compression beiore'the fluidpressure is cut off. The switch may be arranged to automatically controlthe motor circuit after the closure movement is complete.

Since thebucket halves are held in closed position under spring tensionas well as under fluid pressure, as soon as the fluid pressure isreleased the spring Will draw the cylinder upwardly'to its normalposition before the bucket halves start to open through the action ofgravity after the oil pressurehas been released. This action of theapparatus does not involve a large degree of movement and takesl placein a very small interval of time, practically in a fraction of a second,and therefore, the'advantages of the invention are realized Without. inany way sacrificing speed of-movement or any other features of theinvention apart from the additional closing element incorporated in thisapparatus. II'he advantage of having the, bucket closed firmly at alltimes is very great where material is transported across areas whichwould be unfavorably affected by the discharge of fine material, overspecially prepared surfaces or over areas where foreign matter maydestroy or contaminate material which must be maintained insubstantially dust-free and grit-free condition. It is also to be notedthat in many instances leakage from a container bucket causesappreciable losses when the material is being conveyed, and thatrecovery of such material may be practically impossible because of theparticular area traversed between the point ofthe pick-up of the loadand its place of discharge.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of those explained, change being made as regards the mecha'nismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1 An apparatus of the character described having in combination asuspension head, pairs of link members pivotally connected at theirinner'ends thereto, a pair ofpivotally connected bucket halves supportedon the outer ends of said link members, a fluid pressure operating unitfor closing said bucket halves, said unit including a cylinder and apiston having a rod connected at its outer end to one of said buckethalves and a fluid pressure supply connection with the inner end of saidcylinder, and spring resistance connecting means between the outer endof the cylinder and the supporting links for the other bucket half forholding said bucket halves closed and retarding the opening thereof.

2. An apparatus of the character described having in combination asuspension head, pairs of link members pivotally connected at theirinner ends thereto, a pair of pivotally connected bucket halvessupported on the outer ends of said link members, uid pressure mechanismconsisting of a cylinder and a piston therein connected to a rodextending through the inner end of said cylinder, said cylinder beingdisposed becarried by one of said pairs of link members for supplyingfluid pressure to said mechanism to close said bucket halves, supportingmeans for said cylinder between its outer end and the adjacent pair oflink members, said means including a compression spring arranged to becompressed by the supply of fluid pressure in closing said buckethalves, and means for releasing said fluid pressure.

3. An apparatus of the character described having in combination asuspension head, link members pivotally connected at their inner endsthereto, a pair ofpivotally connected bucket halves suspended by saidlink members, fluid pressure operating mechanism for closing said buckethalves, comprising a cylinder and piston and a rod connected at itsinner end to said piston and extending through the inner end of saidcylinder and pivotally connected at its outer end to one of said buckethalves, and means for resiliently supporting the outer end of saidcylinder on the pair of link members for supporting the other buckethalf, said means including aV compression spring interposed betweenelements thereof and arranged tobe compressed and permit downward-movement of said cylinder relative to said piston after the closure ofthe'bucket halves by said mechanism to apply secondary closing pressureto the latter.

4. In a self-contained grab bucket construction, the combination ofload-engaging bucket members pivotally connected to each other,suspension means for said bucket members, afluid pressure mechanisminterposed between said suspension means and said bucket members forcausing movement of said bucket members into closed position, saidmechanism consisting of av cylinder and a piston havingY a rod extendingthrough one end of said cylinder and connected to one of said bucketmembers, an abutment carried by said suspension means, a springinterposed between said abutment and the opposite end of said cylinderand arranged to be compressed after closure of the bucket halves by thefiuid pressuremechanism, a source of fluid pressure carried on saidsuspension means, and means for supplying uid pressure to said cylinderfrom said source of fluid pressure.

5. In a self-contained grab bucket construction, the combination ofload-engaging bucket members pivotally connected to eachother,suspension means for said bucket members, consisting of a head and pairsof depending links pivotally connected to said bucket members, a fluidpressure mechanism interposed between said suspension means and saidbucket members for causing movement of said bucket members into closedposition, said mechanism consisting of a cylinder and a piston having arod extending through the inner end of said cylinder and'connected toone of said bucket members, a device onthe opposite end of said cylinderextending axially therefrom and provided with an abutment, an annularabutment, through which said device eX- tends, mounted on one of saidpairs of links, a compression spring between said abutments arranged topermit endwise movement of said cylinder after closing of said bucketmembers by said mechanism, a source of fluid pressure carried on saidsuspension means, and means for supplying fluid pressure to saidcylinder from said source of iuid pressure.

6. In a vself-contained grab bucket construction, the combination ofload-engaging bucket members pivotally connected to each other,suspension means for said bucket members, a housing for supporting a uidpressure responsive mechanism mounted on the suspension means for one ofsaid bucket members adjacent their upper ends, a transverse yokeconnected to the companion bucket member opposite its point .of pivotalsupport, said fluid pressure responsive means comprising a cylinderresiliently suppension means for said bucket members, a housing mountedon the suspension means for one 0f said bucket members adjacent theirupper ends, a transverse yoke connected to the companion bucket memberopposite its point of pivl otal support, a cylinder resilientlysupported on said housing, a piston Within said cylinder having itspiston rod connected with said yoke, a fluid pressure generating unitmounted on the suspension members for the companion bucket memberadjacent the lower portion thereof, and means for controlling theadmission of iluid pressure to said cylinder to cause closing movementof said bucket members With the compression loading of said resilientcylinder support, said means also serving to release iiuid pressure fromsaid cylinder, causing retarded load release under the iniluence ofgravity.

8. .In a self-contained grab bucket construction, the combination ofload-engaging bucket members pivotally connected to each other,suspension means for said bucket members, a housing mounted on thesuspension means for one of said bucket members adjacent their upperends, a transverse yoke connected to the companion bucket memberopposite its point of pivotal support, a cross-bracing means mounted inthe rst-mentioned bucket member, a cylinder resiliently supported onsaid housing, a piston within said cylinder having its piston rodconnected With said yoke, a fluid pressure generating unit mounted onthe suspension means for the companion bucket member adjacent the lowerportion thereof,` and means for controlling the Yadmission of fluidpressure to said cylinder to cause closing movement of said bucketmember with the compression loading of said resilient cylinder support,said means also serving to release iluid pressure from said cylinder,causing retarded load release under the influence of gravity.

9. In a self-contained grab bucket construction, the combination of apair of hinged grab bucket halves of conventional form,l suspensionmeans for said bucket halves consisting of a yoke adapted to beconnected to a hoist cable and pairs of links pivotally connected attheir inner ends to said yoke, each pair of links being pivotallyconnected at their outer ends tothe upper and outer corners of one ofsaid bucket halves, frame members connected 'With the upper and innermargins of said bucket halves, a pivot provided at the free ends of eachof said frame members, a fluid pressure generating unit mounted on andbetween one of said pairs of links intermediate the opposite endsthereof, a fluid pressure responsive device consisting of a piston andcylinder, said cylinder being pivotally supported at its inner end onand between the other pair of links and disposed at an angle to animaginary plane cutting the axes of the pivot between said pairs oflinks and said yoke and the pivot for said frame members, the outer endof the rod connected to said piston being pivotally connected to theremote bucket half intermediate its upper and lower corners, a fluidpressure line connecting the cylinder With said fluid pressuregenerating unit, and means for controlling the application of the fluidpressure to said cylinder.

VICTOR R. BROWNNG.

REFERENCES CITEDV following references are of record in th 'file oi thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

